Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank everyone that helped in the creation of this
book. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank my amazing studio members for constantly being
a source of inspiration and relief in times of stress. Most importantly
Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to thank my professor, Dr. Tammy Gaber, for what one could
only describe as both being the most insane yet enjoyable four month
studio.

5

Table of Contents
Chapter 1

Pg 07

Chapter 2

Pg 29

Chapter 3

Pg 51

Chapter 4

Pg 63

Chapter 5

Pg 75

An Analysis of Buddhism

Finnish Case Studies

Site Analysis

Liturgical Item

Temple Design

7

Chapter 01
An Analysis on Buddhism

8

Buddhism

The religion of Buddhism is one of
the largest in the world, however, unlike
other major world religions that have
a God, Buddhism does not1. Although
within the classification of religions
created by Ninian Smart, it can be said
to be one.2 It maintains a practical
and ritual dimension, an experiential
and emotional dimension, a narrative
or mythic dimension, a doctrinal and
philosophical dimension, an ethical and
legal dimension, a social and institutional
dimension, as well as a material
dimension.2
That being said, at the centre of
Buddhism is not a godly figure, but the
Buddha himself.3 The word Buddha is
not a name but rather a tittle that means
â&#x20AC;&#x153;honored oneâ&#x20AC;?, with the actual name of
the Buddha being Siddhartha Gotama.3
The Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story begins with him being
raised in a life of comfort in a palace, but
after four different trips outside of his
sheltered upbringing, begins to question
the meaning of life.4 In each of his four
excursions, he learned something new
about the world that made him ponder
his comfortable life.4 On his first trip
he met an old man and pondered the
concept of aging.4 On his second trip he
met a sick man and began thinking of
illness.4 His third trip had him witnessing
a corpse, opening his eyes to the finality

of life.4 On his fourth and final trip he
met a beggar who was happier than all
the other people he had met.4 What the
Buddha took away from this was that all
people age, get sick, and die, however,
true happiness is attainable .4
It is said that shortly after his
fourth trip, the Buddha left the palace

old age

sickness

death

poverty
he was raised in and set out on a
journey to unravel the true meaning
of life.4 It was only after many days of
contemplation and meditation that he
gained an understanding of the world,
otherwise known as enlightenment.5 For
a brief moment, the Buddha considered
simply keeping this information to
himself, but ultimately decided to share
the knowledge with the world.5 The
knowledge of his enlightenment would
go on to become the basis of Buddhist

9

teachings, also known as the four noble
truths.6 These truths were that life is
suffering (dukkha), suffering caused
craving (samudaya), suffering can end
(nirodha), and that there is a method in
which to end the suffering (magga). It is
only when someone embodies these four
truths that one may gain enlightenment
(nirvana) and accomplish the goal of
Buddhism, which is to end the cycle of
rebirth and suffering.6 These teachings
and others of Buddhism where at first
shared orally, and it was not until some
100 years after the Buddhaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death
that these teachings were recorded in
scripture known as canons.7 The oldest
canon that is still preserved is the Pali
Canon, although it only is held highly in
the Theravada sect as the Mahayanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
compiled their own canons.7
Meditation is a very important
part of the Buddhist religion, however,

Dukkha

(suffering)

Samudaya
(craving)

NIRVANA
Nirodha

(suffering is not
permanent)

magga

(end of
suffering)

in the past it was reserved only for a few
monks and nuns. It has now become more
sought after by common practitioners in
recent decades.8
In acquiring the four sacred truth,
Buddha discovers what is known as the
eightfold path or middle way, a way of
being to reach enlightenment.9 The first
three parts of this practice are energizing
qualities requiring one to have the right
view, resolve and speech.10 The later three
are calming qualities, focusing on one
practicing the right actions, livelihood
and effort.10 The first six work together in
the seventh step to become mindfulness,
and these seven are all acquired through
the eight step of Meditation.10 Although
positioned as steps here, all parts of
the eightfold path hold significance
and must be continuously sought after
through mediation in order to reach
enlightenment.11
After his death, the Buddha made
it apparent to not appoint anyone as
a successor, as he never saw himself
as a leader of the Buddhist following.12
In doing so, no central authority on
the religion was formed, and disputes
between practitioners often resulted in
splitting of groups.13 Today, Buddhism
can be classified into two main sects
formed by a major division in the way it
is practiced. The more conservative of
the two sects is the Theravada (Doctrine
of Elders) sect.13 Practitioners of this sect
are commonly found in Sri Lanka, Burma,
and Thailand.13 The more innovative sect
is known the Mahayana (Great Vehicle)
and can be found in Tibet, Central Asia,
China and Japan.13
Buddhism was a missionary
religion to begin with, so its spread was

10

only natural.14 Beginning in India through
the sermons of the Buddha himself, it
quickly amassed thousands of followers.
14
The spread of the religion also gained
momentum in the 3rd century BC after
Emperor Ashoka became a practitioner
and missionary of Buddhism. Ashoka
then sent his missionaries to the south
to help spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka
in 250BCE.15 From Sri Lanka and India,
Buddhism made its way around Asia,
going to China between 100BCE-100CE,
Cambodia in 100CE, Vietnam in 150CE,
Burma in 400CE, Korea in 400CE, Japan
between 500-600CE, Tibet between
600-700CE, and Thailand in 1000CE.16

<1,000,000

1,000,000 - 10,000,000

Currently Buddhism has close
to 470 million followers around the
world, with Mahayana sect holding
some 185 million people and the
Theravada sect having 125 million
followers.17 More specifically, as of 2017,
within Finlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current population of
5,513,130 people, only 1,814 people
identify as Buddhist Practitioners.18

10,000,000 - 100,000,000

Above: Buddist Practitioners by Country
Drawing by author After Pew Research Center,

in 1990 to 2017. Helsinki, June 20. Accessed
September
2018.
http://pxnet2.stat.fi/
PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__
vaerak/?tablelist=true.

12

The Stupa

Of the first three main Buddhist
buildings, the residence hall (vihara), the
hall of worship (chaitya), and the stupa,
the latter became the most important
and symbolic of them.1 The stupa was
influenced by the Hindu burial mound
as a housing of sacredness not meant
to be entered but circumambulated.2 It
was covered an intricate mix of images,
divinities and objects; as early Buddhist
architecture did not symbolize Buddha
in a human form but rather symbolically
with empty thrones, trees or stupas
themselves.3 It was not until the end of
the third century that the image of the
Buddha in meditation began to appear.3

The purposes of Stupas can be
classified into 5 main groups: relic, object,
commemorative, symbolic and votive
stupas.4 Relic stupas were meant to case
the remains of important figures like the
Buddha or his disciples, while object
stupas contained important belongings
of these people.4 Unlike the previous
two that housed items, commemorative
stupas where meant to recognize
significant moments in the Buddha or his
disciples lives.4 Symbolic stupas had less
of a cause and effect relationship as they
were built as reminders of the Buddha
and Nirvana.4 Lastly, votive stupas
were established at important points
of a pilgrimage or monasteries for good
karma.4
As time progressed and Buddhism
spread, the form of the Stupa began to
slowly change and its name was referred
to differently. Some of the other names of
the stupa were also caitya (Nepal), dagba
(Sri Lanka), candi (Indonesia), zedi/chedi
(southeast Asia), chorten (Tibet), & the tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a
or pagoda (east Asia).4

Above: 250BCE to 100BCE Sanchi Stupa

Phuoc, Le Huu. 2010. Buddhist Architecture.
Grafikol, 161

In India, stupas usually had a
hemispherical dome surrounded by
ornate railings and gateways.4 In other
countries, the dome part of the stupa
began to be emphasized through a
vertical stretching or a rising on plinths

13

Above: 670 CE Pagoda in Japan

Phuoc, Le Huu. 2010. Buddhist Architecture.
Grafikol, 200

as seen in Pakistan.4 In eastern Asia, the
native building styles influences the stupa
into becoming the pagoda, removing the
dome completely in order to focus on
height. 4 In the south eastern parts of Asia
such as Indonesia, Myanmar and Tibet,
a multi-terraced and galleried stupa
become prevalent.4 Although different in
style, other than the Tibetan chorten and
Asian pagoda, stupas were not meant to
be entered.5

Above: 792-842 CE Multi-terraced Candi in Indonesia

Phuoc, Le Huu. 2010. Buddhist Architecture.
Grafikol, 215

1 Fisher, Robert E. 2015. Buddhist Art and

Architecture. London: Thames & Hudson, 29

2 Fisher, 31
3

Fisher, 41-42

4 Phuoc, Le Huu. 2010. Buddhist Architecture.

Grafikol, 149

5 Phuoc 150

14

Sanchi Stupa

The great Stupa at Sanchi dates
back from 250BCE to 100BCE1 as one of
the oldest religious and Buddhist pieces
of architecture in India.2 It was originally
part of a huge monastery comprised
of multiple stupas, of which only three
remain.3 The art of the stupa focused on
the pillars and gateways (toranas) found

at cardinal points portraying important
Buddhist events.3 A pillar was erected in
the mid third century by emperor Ashoka
after a visit.4
Buddhist
missionaries
and
pilgrims would likely have entered the
enclosed railings through the south

torana, circulating around the stupa in a
clockwise direction as they contemplated
the four holy truths and the eightfold
path.5
Although not the first Stupa ever
built, the Sanchi Stupa shows a maturing
of the stupa architecture.6 Borrowing
from wood joinery, the stone pillars were
skillfully connected with mortises tenon
joints.6 After its discovery by the western
world, the monastery that the Great
Stupa of Sanchi was in was plundered by
explorers in the hopes of finding treasure,
resulting in the deterioration and collapse
of many of the buildings.6 That being said,
restoration have taken place since then
and the once collapsed south and west
toranas have been reconstructed.6

Designed by Takashi Okuno office,
Takashi Okuno & Associates, the Ihaido
(hall for Buddhist memorial tablets) for
the Korin Ji temple in the mountains of
tamaga-cho is a contemporary piece of
Buddhist architecture.1 The buildings
materiality focuses on readily available
materials and simple construction
methods as to warrant the maintenance
of the building with local craftsman.1
Symbolism takes shape in the
88 glass fitted windows on the skin of
the building. 1 This number is meant to
represent the amount of stops visited
on an Ohenro pilgrimage route around
shikoku island.1
The interior space of the building
thusly becomes a place for calming ones
spirit wrapped within a corridor of lights
that changes throughout the different
times of day and the year. This light filled
corridor allows for circulations of the
space on the lower floors.

‘temple of the future’ on japanese mountain.
July 30. Accessed September 2018. https://
www.designboom.com/architecture/takashiokuno-ihaido-temple-japan-07-30-2018/.

18

19

A Phenomenological Analysis
I make my was to you through the peaking
buds of mother earth, as i see your blissful
enlightenment holding you high.
I have followed veins of concrete through
hills and valleys to bring me to your feet,
simply to be dwarfed by your grandeur.
Clad in the essence of humility and
coarseness, your callous exterior only
allows a tiny glimpse as to who you are.
Yet you embrace me without hesitation,
brushing me ever so gently with your rays.
Allowed to wonder through your soul,
you do not beckon for me to reach your
center but I am there all the same.
In silence and serenity, I find peace at
your deepest center, while in thought and
contemplation I explore the levels of your
soul.
Now at your top, you have given me
your all and have nothing more to bare,
allowing the earth to embrace me just as
you once had.

20

Waterside Buddist Shrine

Designed by ARCHSTUDIO, the
waterside Buddhist shrine pays homage
to Buddhism as a place for meditation
and contemplation. 1 The buildings
design is one focused on landscape as
the design team used the mound and
trees already on the site to help create a
connection between building and nature.1

All these aspects come together to create
a harmony in the sequencing of the
space and its emphasis of the natural
environment it is built in.

The shrine is built directly under the
mound, with the main entrance being
an elongated walkway that makes one
feel a slow descent into the earth. 1 The
entryway is also focused on building
around the existing trees on the site,
creating a network of 5 branched areas. 1
Each of the five spaces have
different functions with the entrance
to the south, a meditation room to the
north west, a tea room directly opposite
the meditation room, a living room to
the north and a washroom directly west.1
Light is allowed to filter into the shrine
room through an overhead window along
a curved wall, emphasizing the light on
the Buddha statue in the room.1 Directly
opposite the space of meditation is the
tea room with a curtain wall opening the
view towards the serene water. 1

A Phenomenological Analysis
Glimpses of you catch my eye from the
distance, as your ever so subtle glow
invites me in.
Shrouded under the earth that you
simultaneously shape and find shape
from. Your arms reach out in a haunting
beauty to invite me in.
Intrigue wins an inner conflict with fear,
as you guide me under to a place that as
much as I struggle, I will not influence.
Silence begins to flood you slowly till
there is nothing left but a tranquil stream.
While you become ever more silent, my
thoughts begin to thunder ever so violent.
And just as the sea of silence takes my last
breath, so too does the storm calm to find
serenity .
I know I am here, within the earth,
experiencing the earth.
I may go, but would rather this silence
drown me in peace.

24

Annotated Bibliography

ARCHSTUDIO. n.d. ARCHSTUDIO: Buddha Tea House. Accessed September 2018. http://
www.archstudio.cn/case/0_0_263/.
Barrie, Thomas. 2010. The Sacred In-Between: The Mediating Roles of Architecture. Milton
Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Two of the section that focus on Buddhism, in a spiritual and architectural sense,
were used. The first contains a brief overview on the contemplative practices
of Buddhism. Specifically, the 7 factors of enlightenment, investigation, effort,
rapture, tranquility, concentration and equanimity, that come together to create
mindfulness. Many of the major sects of Buddhism practice mindfulness, as it
creates an active awareness with the mind and environment. The second relating
to the archetypal stupa located at Sanchi. It states that the architectural Buddhist
temple was a place for circulation in devotion. It goes on to briefly describe the
Great Stupa of Sanchi, the monastery it was a part of, as well as the artistic and
architectural details around the Stupa.
Cheng, Aaron. n.d. Google Map Customizer. Accessed September 2018. http://
www.chengfolio.com/google_map_customizer#administrative/labels/444444/off/
administrative.country/geometry.stroke/444444/off/administrative.province/
geometry.stroke/444444/off/landscape/geometry/e3e3e3/on/landscape.natural/
labels/bbbbbb/on/poi/all/4.
Design Boom. 2018. Takashi Okuno builds the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;temple of the futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on japanese mountain.
July 30. Accessed September 2018. https://www.designboom.com/architecture/
takashi-okuno-ihaido-temple-japan-07-30-2018/.
Designboom. 2017. archstudio embeds buddhist shrine within the riparian landscape
of hebei, china. May 09. Accessed September 2018. https://www.designboom.com/
architecture/archstudio-waterside-buddhist-shrine-china-05-09-2017/.
Fisher, Robert E. 2015. Buddhist Art and Architecture. London: Thames & Hudson.
The book focuses on the creation, growth and evolution of Buddhist Art and

25

Architecture. The introductory chapter explains Buddhist art as a mix of images,
divinities and objects. The author goes on to discuss Buddhist architecture in select
regions, with relevant black and white photos for visualisation. He discusses early
Buddhist art in India, the influences of its Architecture, and the iconography used
to depict the Buddha himself.
Georgetown University. n.d. Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. Accessed
September 2018. https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/demographics-of buddhism/#!english.
Keown, Damien. 2013. Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The book contains a brief overview on multiple aspects of the Buddhist Religion.
The first chapter deals with rectifying Buddhism as a Religion. It then proceeds to
discuss the life of the Buddha, from his birth to his Enlightenment and death. The
section on the four noble truths describe the goals of the religion and the eightfold
path to attain enlightenment. The section on the spread of Buddhism explains how
and when Buddhism spreads. The final section referenced describes the how and
why of meditation in the Buddhist Religion. Maps are included in the begging of the
book to help visual the spread of the religion.
2018. Key figures on population by region in 1990 to 2017. Helsinki, June 20. Accessed
September 2018. http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__
vaerak/?tablelist=true.
Kozak, Arnie. 2010. The Everything Buddhism Book: A complete introduction to the history,
traditions, and beliefs of Buddhism, past and present. Avon, MA: Simon and Schuster.
Chapter 10 of this book goes on to discuss the Spread of Buddhism through the
world. It begins in India with the Buddha and spreads greatly through the influence
of Emperor Ashoka. It then travels all around Asia through the help of missionaries.
Theravada Buddhism travels south to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos
and Indonesia; while Mahayana Buddhism travels north to spreading to China with
the help of the Silk Road, Japan, Tibet, and Korea. The Chapter ends stating the top
ten countries with the highest number of Buddhist practitioners, and stating that
although prevalent on the eastern hemisphere, Buddhism has grown greatly in the
last 50 years in the West.
Okuno, Takashi. n.d. Takashi Okuno & Associates: Works. Accessed September 2018. http://
okunotakashi.jp/s/%E7%9C%9F%E8%A8%80%E5%AE%97%E5%85%89%E6%9E%97%E
5%AF%BA%e3%80%80%E4%BD%8D%E7%89%8C%E5%A0%82/.
Pew Research Center. 2010. Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Numbers. Accessed

26

September 2018. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/table-religious-composition-bycountry-in-numbers/.
Phuoc, Le Huu. 2010. Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol.
Chapter 6 of this book discusses the stupa Architecturally, and contains many
examples with drawings. It states that the stupa is the most important type aspect
of Buddhist architecture as well as five classifications of stupas. These include
relic, object, commemorative, symbolic, and votive types of stupas. It includes an
overview of how stupas changed from region to region over time. The chapter also
includes a section on the great Stupa at Sanchi, including diagrams and a history of
its discovery to the western world.

27

29

Chapter 02
Finnish Case Studies

30

Löyly Sauna

Löyly is an intricate piece of architecture
that sits along the Southern coast line
of the city of Helsinki. The sauna is an
indispensable part of the Finnish lifestyle,
with the population of Finland having
only 5.4million people but 3.3 million
recorded sauna’s.1
Public sauna’s,
although popular in the past in major
cities, have become less prevalent.2 With
that in mind, Avanto architects set out to
create a new public sauna for the city of
Helsinki.
Designed by Avanto Architects as their
second project as a firm,3 the building
houses a multitude of programs. In the
northern portion of the building is the
Sauna space housing three different
sauna types. A public steam sauna, a
public smoke sauna, and a private smoke
sauna that can be rented out by groups.
Balancing what has been said to be a
spiritual moment of solace that is the
sauna, are the more social elements
of the building to the south. With a
restaurant operated by Royal Restaurants
and an outdoor auditorium for the future
marine sports centre.4

Set in a formerly industrial area that is
being transformed into a residential one,5
it can be said that the building is a marker
of what us to come. The faceted form of
the sauna also hints to a future coastal
park, with layered wooden strips of heattreated pine both keeping privacy for
those inside while still allowing for views
to the water and surrounding site from
the inside.6

Open rooftop approachable
from steps integrated with
the undulating wood on the
southern side.

Public outdoor
auditorium

Restaurant seating space

0m

5m

10m

A section of the building through the restaurant showcasing the undulating timber form
and how it connects with the water
Drawing by author After AVANTO Architects

20m

32

public outdoor
auditorium

steps to
rooftop

restaurant

33

private
sauna

changing
rooms

steam
sauna

smoke
sauna

As one approaches the building, they see
it humbly sitting within the site, evocative
yet not screaming for attention. Inside an
invigorating process of what one can only
describe as spiritual takes place as one
begins the process of both heating their
bodies in the sauna and cooling it rapidly
within the water.

0m

5m

10m

20m

Drawing by author After AVANTO Architects

34

35

Photograph of exterior by Author

36

A Phenomenological Analysis

37

38

Kuokkala Church

The Kuokkala church designed by OOPEAA
(Office for peripheral architecture) is an
exquisite piece of architecture located in
the Kuokkala neighborhood in the city of
Jyvaskyla.1 Designed for a competition
that asked for a church that looks like
a church, the previously 20 year empty
site now houses a church that is both a
beacon and a community space.2
The building is situated in the middle of
a barren square, showcasing itself as a
focal point standing tall in is vast space.
Nestle thoughtfully within the site, it takes
advantage of the elevation differences,
creating two different level entrances at
grade. The exterior is clad in slate tiles,
giving it a very strong and almost harsh
presence within the white square and the
winter seasons of Helsinki. However, once
entered, the atmosphere is completely
change. The warm glow of timber
embraces you within the prayer space, as
light pears through a skylight and weaved
timber lattices that cover the roof of the
building. Sculptural carved wooded
circles find themselves placed upon the
back wall, alluding both metaphorically
to the symbol of the cross, and literally
with the etched gold symbols that glow
as light reflects of them.

The program of the building is separated
throughout the three levels. The bottom
floor houses the offices that have the
option of spilling onto the square.3 The
middle floor houses both the church hall
and parish hall that may be combined
into one open space. Lastly, the top floor
contains the organ as well as the cantorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
office.4

Located in the southern portion of the
southern capital, Helsinki; Meripuisto City
Park and Kaivopuisto park are the location
chosen for the project site. With its vast
greenery and amazing view, its promise
for a beautiful building is apparent.

0m 10m

25m

50m

Meripuisto City Park 1:5000: Drawing by Jacob Riehl

53

0m 10m

25m

50m

Kaivopuisto Park 1:5000: Drawing by author

54

55

Meripuisto City Park Section: Drawing by Alexander Klein Gunnewiek

56

57

Kaivopuisto Park Section: Drawing by Raâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;anaa Brown

58

59

Longitudinal Site Section: Drawing by Lisa Hoshowsky and Marie Jankovich

As meditation is on of the most crucial
parts of Buddhism, an item used to
improve this ritual process was analyzed
for a liturgical piece.
Early sketches of the piece focused on
three aspects; creating a seating piece
that was modular, comfortable and

showed homage to significance of the
number 8 in Buddhism. These drawings
also analyzed the footprint of a human
body in lotus pose, and began designing
for that.

65

Developmental drawing rose issues as
the seating found itself at an awkward
angle. A re design was configured for a
smaller block.

66

67

1:1 mock ups of a possible seating
block were developed through the
use of cardboard to better understand
dimensions and comfort.

68

69

A test piece was created out of a
laminated maple block to test practicality
and comfort.

70

Revised designs took place to address
the issue of weight made apparent in the
wooden version striving for a lighter form
that did not sacrifice comfort.. 3/4 inch
thick ultra high performance concrete is
cast in a form to create this concrete.

71

3D printed 1to5 models of the seat were
created to address the harsh curve cuts in
the previous iteration

72

73

Final representation of the completed
meditation block, made with black
concrete.

75

Chapter 05
Temple Design

76

Design Through Collage

The design process of the final
sacred space, a Buddhist temple, for
the studio began with an exploration of
collage. Avoiding thinking in the typical
architectural models of plans and
sections, the focus was put on creating
expressive spaces through collage.

These would then be interpreted
and reinterpreted by both the viewers
and the creator of the collages. In the
hopes of pushing the designs to their
utmost potential.

Meditation Space Collage

77

The Initial collages focused on
the meditation space and the transitional
space into the temple. With simple
iconography to represent a possible
Buddhist statue for the meditation
space and simple cutouts to represent a
corridor lined with the mediation block

Transitional Space Collage

78

Meditation Space Layered Acrylic Collage

Moving forward, the collages were
improved upon by using layered acrylic.
This was to add a layer of dept into the
collages, and in doing so aspects of the
designs were greatly in improved upon.

79

Transitional Space Layered Acrylic Collage

Ideas like a terraced meditation
space with a tree like structure in the
middle and a meandering transitional
space were discussed in order to replace
homogeneous elements out of the design
to more intricate ones.

80

Meditation Space Layered Acrylic Collage

The final step in this collage process
involved merging the digital with the
haptic. The spaces were remade in
Photoshop with layers, then printed and
glued to layered acrylic sheets to create a
semi-final image of the spaces.

81

Transitional Corridor Layered Acrylic Collage

82

Not only the meditation space and
transitional space, but many different
portions of the building were explored
through this digital collage process. These
later iteration were however printed onto
acetate sheets in order to more efficiently
process.

After compiling all of the previous
research and processes, a final
design was created on the site.
Designed for the city of Helsinki
in Kaivopuisto park, Tyyni Temppeli finds
itself following its name sake in the hopes
of being a serene temple. Placed a top of
the highest point, the temple both uses
the site to help itself be displayed while
integrating the fairly drastic topography
into the design.
Subtlety clad in black aluminum,
the building aims to address both the
strong message and humility practiced
in Buddhism. As one circumambulation
through the space, the eight-fold
path central to Buddhist teachings is
manifested in the design through its
geometric shapes and within the narrow
windows placed within the exterior.
A centralized meditation space is
found at the center of the building, with
concrete beams that both represent the
Bodhi tree, the location in which the
Buddha gained enlightenment, and
act as the structure that supports the
majority of the building.

0m

10m

25m

50m

85

Southern Site Approach Render

86

Northern Approach to Building
with conrete guiding walls

Programatic elemements
nestled close to core

Public seating landscaped
withing building

Southern Approach to Building
with conrete guiding walls

Southern main entrance
Northern lower level entrance
and MPU
Stair case to MPU and north
exit
Circulation of building around
central program

87

Programatic elemements
nestled close to core

Southern main entrance
Northern lower level entrance
and MPU
Central meditation space
Stair case to MPU and north
exit
Circulation of building around
central program